A Little Folly Ruins Everything

Ecclesiastes 10:1: "As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor."



Analogies are great at helping us better appreciate principles of truth; many comparative illustrations can be used to give us a powerful insight into words of direction for our lives. In this passage, the writer of Ecclesiastes uses a sensory illustration from his cultural setting to better aid his hearers in appreciating the reality of folly's devastating effects on life.



In the culture of ancient Palestine, perfume was costly. It could take years of accumulated wages to purchase many of the perfumes that were used in that day, so one was careful to protect the precious commodity once a financial sacrifice was offered for its purchase. Although used sparingly, the costly fragrance's blessing was noteworthy, given the rural, agrarian, semi-nomadic setting in which the people lived in that day. There was a lot of sweating from a lot of hard work with little opportunity to bathe. Perfume was a true treasure!

Still, if in one careless moment the flask or jar were left open, the costly perfume would be subject to flies or other elements that could contaminate it. Though years of hard work, sweat, tears, and sacrificial saving may have purchased the perfume, in one minute of carelessness, everything would be lost. It is a tremendous loss, given that the person has lost years of his life working for no substantive purpose. It is the ultimate waste.

As we reflect upon the analogy above, we are able to appreciate how one bad decision of folly can wreck everything for which we have worked in our lives. Whereas some may call it a lapse in judgment, it is nonetheless irreparably damaging to us. Although we may be able to find forgiveness from the Lord for our sin, we may have to live with the lasting consequences of poor decision making.

For this reason, we must strive to follow obediently the dictates of Scripture to avoid the costly decisions of waywardness. We must seek the Lord and His will as if we were seeking priceless treasure (thus above all things), for it is to this disposition of heart, that the Lord gives wisdom for wise decision making (see Proverbs 2:3-10). Our righteousness, sparked and fueled by the Holy Spirit, will bring us deliverance and blessing, free from the calamities of folly (see Proverbs 11:6).